As soon as conditions warranted, after the close of World War II, our harbor work was resumed in its fullness. In 1945, a new little cruiser was purchased, the "Vigilance," a shining, white 28-foot boat, a twin screw, cabin cruiser with accommodations for sleeping four – two upper and two lower berths – and a galley complete with stove and kitchen equipment. This boat proved excellent in nosing into tight places close to the large ships and was in active service until 1953.
A number of our boys who returned from the navy at the close of World War II were privileged to be among the missionary crew on the Vigilance. Eight crew members were appointed so they could change crews at times, and all were happy to have a part in this growing work of evangelism. Sometimes our boys wore their uniforms and were readily received by the seamen on board ship.
One year, during "Fleet Week," when there were a number of naval ships in harbor, along with many others, our boys threw Gospel packets aboard 164 ships one Sunday alone, working late into the evening; and nine of the ships they visited personally.
During a summer camp meeting, the land-crew of workers went down to the ships nightly; and in the 5-week period, they brought a total of 539 seamen, 400 of whom were sailors, to the services.
Because of the increased shipping industry in our port following the war, many ships entered our harbors. One year the Vigilance crew were able to get the Gospel literature aboard 3,567 ships in packet form by working both the Willamette and Columbia rivers. The total contents of these packets included 6,086 Apostolic Faith papers, 3,000 little "Gospels," 10,000 tracts, and many small sacred calendars. We were very grateful for the work accomplished; but of more interest to us than numbers of men, ships, or pieces of literature, were the individual souls who prayed through to victory and found God's salvation. That is the ultimate aim, goal, and purpose of this work.